I think you may have misunderstood my earlier reply. You are not limited to flying to/from *A hubs.....however since AMS is a ST hub I was pointing out that you will not find too many long haul *A flights to choose from. When I suggested you needed to go to a *A hub, I meant you would probably need to first fly AMS to a EU *A hub (FRA/MUC/ZRH/BRU/CPH etc) in order to get a flight to JFK.

For example, AMS-JFK could be done by going AMS-FRA-JFK
Also beware of the F redemption charges when flying domestic F with US/UA. Can be avoided by using CO/AC and also on the JFK-SFO/LAX route in UA PS.

but I think in reality if there is any change no matter how small that they class as a schedule change that you are asked to accept then you can get a free cancel (not 100% sure about change)

Thanks for this good news. Flight now >1hr earlier, so a free cancellation and rebook beckons!

That's not the case. The restriction is to routes that are flown by *A members. For obvious reasons, most of these start and/or finish at hub airports.

Others have responded on stopover rules. I would just add that Europe-IAH-SFO doesn't sound at all good unless you really, really want to spend time in Houston. Otherwise you'll just be extending journey time unnecessarily. Generally, when coming into the US the preferred option is always to enter the country at your destination. Otherwise you have to allow enough connection time to clear immigration (which can be a long process), collect your luggage, clear customs, re-check your luggage, clear security and reach your new gate. Even if everything goes well, you reach SFO hours later than necessary.

Of course domestic availability isn't at all good in the US and you may find this plan doesn't work at all.

Chances are you'll have more success looking for availability on a TATL flight straight to SFO, which opens up some attractive options (LX, LH or even NZ) and then getting a feeder from AMS to ZRH, FRA, LHR or wherever your long haul flight departs from.

If IAH is a desired destination rather than a spontaneous stopover idea, then of course you should ignore most of the above -- but accept that paying for IAH-SFO may be less hassle than trying to find award availability.

I've just been looking at the successful redemptions thread and spotted this one, but wondered quite how it would work as a Z1-Z10:

I understand CDG-BKK-KTM would be Z1-10 but how does KTM-BKK-ICN-LHR work as Z10-Z1?

It doesn't as the routing via ICN means it would be unlikely to get through as a legal routing. Occasionally they slip the net, but normally you won't get a routing like that through.

Is KTM-BKK-PVG-YYZ-PHL possible?

I have already booked PHL-FCO-BKK-KTM and looking to book the return.
The *A website shows routing through both Asia (NRT, PEK, HKG...etc) and Europe.
However when I called DC they said going through Asia is prohibited as it's not the 'most direct' route.
But the distance travelled is actually shorter via Asia than via Europe.
I don't understand why they wouldn't let me take the shortest route.
Anyone got suggestions on how to convince them?

If *A website shows some of those as a valid routing via Asia and it is even shorter in distance travelled than I would use that as a key argument. If the agent does not agree either ask for a supervisor or just thank them, hang up and try your luck with the next one.

Does anybody have any recent experiences with Z2-Z8 with stopover in Z7? Ideally looking for smth like OTP-IST-SIN(so)-HKG(stop)-IST-OTP, so that I could plug a cheap SIN-DPS ticket there :)

You should have no problems with that itinerary.

I think it's OK. But it depends on the agent.

I had problem when I tried to book ARN-CPH-SIN(stop)-PEK(destination) in Dec.
It ended as CPH-SIN(stopover)-PEK(destination).

Thanks. Will try my luck with an agent later this week, before all TK C seats are gone on those routes (both HKG and SIN got the new TK business class seats).

Zrh - sin - hkg
 

Hi,

Anyone any ideas on whether or not ZRH - HKG with a stopover in SIN would be a valid routing from Z2 - Z8?

Thanks for your time.

Cheers

Switzerland is Z1, therefore it'll be Z1-Z8 award. Stopover in SIN is OK.
If you start your trip eg. from Italy, then Z2-Z8.

Booked today 2 one-ways. OTP-IST-SIN-HKG worked like a charm. Return HKG-IST was not available on that day in C, was proposed immediately HKG-BKK-IST. Thanks for the prompt info above.